# Christmas train rides near Chicago, 2026

> We found five Christmas trains within a drive of Chicago with 2026 dates posted: five Santa trains. The closest, Santa's Trolley Express in South Elgin, is about 35 miles out. Each card has the dates, times, the ages it suits, the price as the operator lists it and whether you need to book ahead.

- Last checked: 2026-10-30
- 5 Christmas trains with 2026 dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/chicago/christmas-trains/
- Santa visits (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/chicago/santa/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/chicago/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/chicago/llms.txt

## Train rides

- **Santa Trains** at Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum, North Judson, IN · about 65 miles away. When: Next: Sat Nov 21, Sat Nov 28, Sat Dec 5, Sat Dec 12 and 1 more. Time: Saturdays. Price: Coach $30 adults, $25 ages 3–15; Economy Coach $25 / $20; First Class options cost more. Ages: Toddlers 0–2 free. Type: Santa train. Official page: https://www.hoosiervalley.org/train-rides/special-events/santa-trains (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Happy Holiday Railway** at Illinois Railway Museum, East Union Depot, 7000 Olson Road, Union, IL · about 55 miles away. When: Nov 27 – Dec 21. Time: Nov 27–29, Dec 5–6, 12–13 and 19–20, plus Mon Dec 21; departures 11:30am–7pm. Price: $30 adults, $25 children; parking is free. Ages: Everyone past their second birthday needs a ticket. Booking: Buy a timed ticket online and arrive 30 minutes before departure. Type: Santa train. A 40-minute ride with Santa aboard, cocoa and cookies, and a light and song show in most cars. Car 7658 is a quiet car with traditional decorations for kids who'd rather skip the show. Fireworks at 5:45pm on opening weekend if the weather allows. Streetcar rides and the heated model railroad are included. Official page: https://www.irm.org/event/happy-holiday-railway/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Daytime Christmas Trains** at East Troy Railroad Museum, East Troy, WI · about 75 miles away. When: Next: Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6 and 4 more. Price: Adults $41–$43, kids 3–14 $36–$39. Ages: Ages 0–2 need a $13–$16 ticket. Type: Santa train. Official page: https://www.easttroyrr.org/daytime-christmas-trains1.html (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Santa's Special Evening Trains** at East Troy Railroad Museum, East Troy, WI · about 75 miles away. When: Next: Sat Nov 28, Fri Dec 4, Fri Dec 11, Sat Dec 12 and 2 more. Time: 5 p.m. Price: Adults $69–$79, kids 3–14 $59–$72. Type: Santa train. Official page: https://www.easttroyrr.org/santas-special-evening-trains.html (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Santa's Trolley Express** at Fox River Trolley Museum (boards at Blackhawk Station, Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve), South Elgin, IL · about 35 miles away. When: Next: Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Fri Dec 4, Sat Dec 5 and 7 more. Time: Weekends from 10:30 a.m.; Friday evenings from 5:30 p.m. Price: $50 per person from Nov 1. Ages: Every passenger needs a ticket, whatever their age. Booking: Each departure booked separately; all sales final. Type: Santa train. Official page: https://foxtrolley.org/visit/special-events/santas-trolley-express/ (checked 2026-10-29)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### Is there a Polar Express train ride near Chicago in 2026?
Not one we could confirm with 2026 dates on an official page. The closest thing on this page is Santa Trains, Happy Holiday Railway and Daytime Christmas Trains.

### Where can kids ride a Santa train near Chicago?
Santa Trains (North Judson, IN · about 65 miles away): Next: Sat Nov 21, Sat Nov 28, Sat Dec 5, Sat Dec 12 and 1 more. Happy Holiday Railway (Union, IL · about 55 miles away): Nov 27 – Dec 21. Daytime Christmas Trains (East Troy, WI · about 75 miles away): Next: Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6 and 4 more. Santa's Special Evening Trains (East Troy, WI · about 75 miles away): Next: Sat Nov 28, Fri Dec 4, Fri Dec 11, Sat Dec 12 and 2 more. Plus one more on this page.

### Do Christmas train rides sell out?
Many do. Two of the five here ask you to book ahead or warn that seats sell out. Each card says what the operator posts about tickets.

### How do you check these train rides?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them every week through December. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).